FEDERAL Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch has congratulated Prime Minister Tony Abbott for his public comments in support of the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes.
“I was very pleased to hear his stance it really will assist in our campaign to make products that contain cannabinoids more widely available for people in need,” Mr Entsch said.
“It comes hot off the back of the New South Wales Premier announcing plans to to carry out a clinical trial that will test the drugs’ use in pain relief, and to forfeit the right to prosecute terminally ill people using cannabis.
“The Victorian parliament is also looking at making it easier to conduct clinical trials for medical cannabis, the West Australian Health Minister has called for national trials and the Queensland Government is also now being encouraged to act on this issue.”
Mr Entsch said that any proposal to legalise availability for medical purposes requires complex interaction between different authorities and levels of government, so there was “no question” that it has to be a combined state and federal initiative.
“The fact that the Prime Minister has publicly come out with these comments is a major step forward and I’ve already contacted his office to raise the possibility of establishing a national taskforce to look at how we can further this cause as we look towards the next COAG meeting,” Mr Entsch said.
“I’m really heartened by what’s happening we’re starting to get momentum. The sooner we can get action, the sooner we can help those people who are desperately relying on these products for relief for chronic pain, epilepsy, chemotherapy-related nausea, MS, Parkinson’s and many other conditions.”